Panther Post
March 24, 2024
Message from the Principal
Dear Oak Hill Families,
I hope everyone has enjoyed the weekend. During my principal coffee last Monday, I received some helpful feedback about how to enhance the Panther Post. The families shared that there is so much information to read that it would be helpful if there was a section of headlines at the start of the newsletter and then families can decide to scroll through more below.
*One other item: there has been a technical problem with SMORE this weekend that has limited my ability to upload photos to the newsletter. I plan to send a much more colorful and engaging newsletter I hope by the end of Monday.
Look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning.
Sincerely,
John
Headlines:
- Oak Hill students thrive in annual middle school Tenacity Challenge at Bedford High School.
- NBC Boston visits Oak Hill
- Oak Hill ADL trained Peer Leaders led grade level Speak Outs
- Oak Hill Unified Basketball Team captures a victory over Natick's Wilson Middle School
- Spring Sports Sign-Ups Close this Tuesday, March 26th at 8pm. 6th Graders can tryout for boys lacrosse. Sign up in the next two days before it is too late.
- Elly Gotz Follow-Up: 8th Graders Cole Ueberroth and Ben Zimmerman share their learning about Elly Gotz' visit
- Oak Hill Clothing Drive Kicks Off this week!
Oak Hill Team Scores Big at the annual Middle School Tenacity Challenge!
The Oak Hill team that competed in the Tenacity Challenge earned 2nd overall in the competition as well as 2nd in the Math Bowl and and 3rd in the Leadership category "Team Black Out." Congratulations to all the participants:
NBC Boston Visits Oak Hill!
The library is in full swing honoring Women’s History Month! We encourage students to visit the library to browse our displays of historical fiction, memoirs, and narrative nonfiction written by and about extraordinary women making great changes in the world. NPS also offers access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks through SORA. SORA has an outstanding collection of books celebrating Women’s History Month too.
The Library’s on Instagram!
Did you know Ms. Stehle hosts an Instagram account featuring what’s happening in Oak Hill Library, including great middle-grade and YA reads? Take a peek at a “book tasting” activity Ms. Opar’s class participated in earlier this week!
NBC News Boston visited the library on Friday. They filmed 6th grade science teacher Ms. Srinivasan and Ms. Stehle co-teach a lesson about the role libraries play in preparing students for the solar eclipse. We will share the link to the segment once it’s broadcast!
Elly Gotz, Holocaust survivor, meets Oak Hill students
Elly Gotz, a 96 year old survivor of the Holocaust, spoke to the students and teachers in 8th grade across the four middle schools last Monday, March 11th. Cole Ueberroth and Ben Zimmerman wrote up a summary and their reflections from his visit. Read more here.
Clothing Drive Kicks Off this Week:
More information will come out Monday morning!
SAGA Transgender Day of Visibility
Check out this booklist to celebrate the transgender community (linked on the Oak Hill Library webpage.)
SAGA is also hosting a pizza lunch and documentary screening in the Library on Monday, March 25th, Day 3. Please see Ms. Lipman in Room 121 in the 7th Grade hallway to sign up.
Oak Hill DESE Report Card
6th Grade Global Goals Exposition Coming Friday, April 5th at 7:45am!
Dear Sixth Grade Families,
Throughout the year our curriculum asks students to analyze ancient civilizations, make global connections and understand modern global citizenship. This year your child is studying the United Nations 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Students are creating a display on a specific Global Goal to raise awareness for this important initiative.
More information about these goals can be found on the following link.
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
We invite you to attend a special event, the Global Goals Exposition on Friday, April 5th, as a grade-wide effort to promote awareness and celebrate student work. Sixth grade classrooms will be filled with presentations on each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and students will discuss their work and share their findings.
Please drop in for as long as you can between 7:45 and 8:50 am on April 5. We will be starting with a brief introduction to the work in the auditorium at 7:50am, if you miss this due to conflicting schedules please feel free to come into the school at the time that works best for you. We’re hoping to have you come ready to ask questions and learn about the goals from your child and their fellow students.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
The 6th Grade Team
"Cyber Smart" Presentations Coming April 8th for 8th Graders:
For 8th Grade Students: 9th Grade Course Registration Info for Newton South:
High School Course Registration Slideshow
Newton South Attendance Policy
Questions? Please email:
Ms. Ariel Bernstein, 8th Grade Guidance Counselor: bernsteina@newton.k12.ma.us
Spring Athletics Letter: Sign Ups open for Spring Sports!
Sign-ups are now underway for spring sports. Students may register on Family ID from March 1st through March 26th. Click here or in the link below for all the information.
PLEASE CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENT HAS AN UPDATED PHYSICAL ON FILE:
ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE UDPATED PHYSICALS IN ORDER TO TRYOUT. A hard copy of a completed physical must be turned in by Wednesday, March 27th to School Nurse Lustenberger. Please email or call Nurse Lustenberger if you have questions: lustenbergerj@newton.k12.ma.us or 617-559-9215.
Grades 7 and 8
Boys Baseball Head Coach: Mr. Walsh Assistant Coach: Mr. Moller
Girls Softball Head Coach: Mr. Keane Assistant Coach: Ms. Cellucci
Boys Lacrosse Head Coach: Mr. Cook Assistant Coach: Mr. Griggs
Girls Lacrosse Head Coach: Ms. Sack Assistant Coach: Ms. Couture
Grades 6, 7 and 8
Track Head Coach: Mr. Sedewitz Assistant Coaches: Ms. Walter, Ms. Nunes, Mr. Gomez
Intramurals
Tuesday Badminton with Ms. Myers
Thursday Badminton with Ms. Cross
From the Music Department: Mr. Cutler and Mr. Bond
The Grades 6,7,8 String Orchestra is performing at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Festival Friday April 5th 2024 at 800pm.
Permission forms are due TUESDAY March 12th 2024.
Questions? Please email Mr. Cutler at cutlerc@Newton.k12.ma.us
Grades 7-8 Band, Choir and String Orchestra are performing as part of the Six Flags Great East Music Festival, Friday, May 10th!
Please turn in permission forms and money by Wednesday, April 3rd! If you have any questions, reach out to Andrew Bond and Caleb Cutler.
To parents/guardians: If you are wondering, we're looking for chaperones! Please email me if you are interested in chaperoning for Six Flags.
SAVE THE DATES for Concerts on June 10th and 11th!
Band Grades 6,7,8 Bands Monday 6/10/2024 D2 (Jazz band too!) @7:00pm
Orchestra Grades 6,7,8 Orchestras Monday 6/10/2024 D2 @7:00pm Choirs Grades 6,7,8 Choirs Tuesday 6/11/2024 D3 @7:00pm
Oak Hill Yearbooks: Only 50 yearbooks left for sale! Don't wait!
The 2023-2024 Oak Hill yearbook sales are underway. Click here to buy your yearbook. The site will prompt you to input 5955 for Oak Hill.
Only 111 out of the 202 8th grade students have ordered their yearbooks.
8th Graders - Don't be left out! The yearbooks is something you will have forever! We have only about 50 yearbooks left for sale for the whole school!
All online sales will need to be completed by the beginning of April. This includes the ads you can purchase to highlight your student with pictures (baby and/or recent) and to give them a congratulatory shout out. We are selling 1/4 page ads for $60 and 1/8 page ads for $40. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to the yearbook supervisor, Katy Oliver at oliverk@newton.k12.ma.us.
When you click the link below, you will have to enter 5955 for Oak Hill!
After-School Clubs for March 2024
April 8 & 9th - MCAS ELA
Monday, May 20: Principal Coffee, 7:45-8:30AM in the library
Thursday, May 23: No Place For Hate Walk at Newton South Winkler Track, 2:55-3:45pm
Thursday, May 30, Friday, May 31, June 1st, The production of Little Women
Newton’s S.P.A.C.E.
(Summer Program for Academic and Creative Endeavors)
Newton’s S.P.A.C.E. is a summer enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools. Camp dates are July 2nd to July 25th, 2024. Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade in the Fall of 2024 are eligible to attend. We offer two programs - an upper camp (entering 5th grade-entering 9th grade in the Fall of 2024) and a lower camp (entering kindergarten-entering 4th grade).
LOWER CAMP - Campers are assigned age-appropriate classes led by elementary school teachers, through project-based learning, challenges, and activities that focus on our camp theme. Each summer a new theme is chosen. Lower Camp has a co-taught model with two teachers and one counselor. Special attention is given to individual students by maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio. Lower Campers will also attend various specials throughout the week led by certified staff. In past years, specials have included physical education, art, yoga, and science..
UPPER CAMP - Campers will create their own schedules by choosing from a vast amount of electives to design their own camp program. S.P.A.C.E. Upper Camp has over 50 electives for students, including art studios, performing arts, athletics, STEM activities, and language arts.
Check out the S.P.A.C.E.website for more information or REGISTER NOW!
Questions? SPACE@newton.k12.ma.us
Oak Hill PTO Update and Helpful Links!
Chromebook Repair Fund: Please pay $25 for Chromebook protection for the year!
Helpful Links and Documents
Questions?
Please reach out to anyone on the administrative team!
Dr. Jamin Bercaw, Assistant Principal
Fiona Healy, Assistant Principal
Amy Geer, Assistant Principal of Student Services
John Harutunian, Principal